Characteristics of inner-city pregnant smoking teenagers

Objective: To describe baseline characteristics of inner-city pregnant adolescent smokers and examine these variables as potential predictors of long-term tobacco abstinence. Study Design: Descriptive study design of the characteristics of pregnant adolescent smokers, with conceptual underpinnings from the Problem-Behavior Theory. Setting: Recruitment and data collection were completed in inner-city outpatient clinics and public schools. Participants: The study enrolled 142 pregnant smoking adolescents. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported smoking behavior (abstinence vs. smoking) assessed at 12 months from study enrollment was the criterion outcome variable. Variables from Problem-Behavior Theory, tobacco use, and demographics variables were selected as predictors of interest. Results: Twelve months following study enrollment, 123 (87%) participants were smoking, with 19 (13%) reporting abstinence. Pregnant adolescents received messages of encouragement from parents and peers to quit smoking but complicated their pregnancies and smoking cessation efforts by concurrently consuming alcohol during the pregnancy. Conclusion: Findings from this study support previous research on adolescent smokers and extend our knowledge to the inner-city pregnant adolescent smoker. These pregnant teenagers present many needs and challenges for the nurses responsible for their care.